Wisdom teeth are located in the back of your mouth behind molars. They are considered to be a part of our distant past, meaning they were useful for our ancestors who ate foods that were more difficult to chew.

As we evolved and our diet changed, the need for wisdom teeth became unnecessary. As a result, wisdom teeth often grow in crooked, sideways, or otherwise misaligned. When growing in, they can push on other teeth, causing problems of overcrowding and misalignment, not to mention pain, infection, and even nerve damage.

Some symptoms of wisdom teeth include:

Pain in the back of the mouth, behind molars. The pain generally increases as the teeth grow in especially if they are misaligned or sideways. Misaligned teeth can cause nerve pain, bone damage, and pain for the surrounding teeth.

Redness, swelling, and tenderness around tooth site. This makes it especially difficult to eat.

Oral infection. Bacteria can enter the site of tooth eruption causing an infection which can affect your overall health.

Impaction. When your jaw bone or neighboring teeth block the wisdom tooth from erupting, it can become “stuck”. This causes extreme pain, infection, and potential long-term damage.

Are you noticing shifted teeth or pain & soreness in the back of your mouth?

Call Sharma Oral Surgery and schedule a consultation. We will conduct a thorough examination of the area which may include x-rays or CT scan to determine whether you should have your wisdom teeth extracted. Don’t wait until you are in extreme pain, early intervention is key! The truth is, we really don’t need our wisdom teeth, so don’t put it off – call Dr. Sharma today!